Organic milk shortage expected to last until April

South Florida shoppers looking for organic milk in local grocery stores may be out of luck until after the holiday season.

A shortage in the organic milk supply has caused empty shelves at grocery stores across the country.

“An increased demand for organic milk coupled with the fact that some organic milk producers are only producing traditional milk due to higher organic grain costs has contributed to the limited supply,” said Kimberly Jaeger, spokeswoman for Publix stores.

Jaeger said that all Publix stores have limited to no supplies of the Lakeland-based company's Greenwise organic milk at this time. Other organic brands, like Horizon and Organic Valley, may be limited through the holiday season too.

"This is an issue that affects organic farmers nationwide," said Louise Hemstead, the Chief Operating Officer for Organic Valley in LaFarge, Wis. "Because of the push for ethanol, grain prices have really gone up."

Publix milk suppliers are located in the Midwest and Northeast, although farmers across the country are being affected. There are no milk producing farms in Florida.